Kirby Smart of Georgia Is Brutally Honest About College Football’s Current Situation

Next Monday, on April 7, the House v. NCAA settlement will have its final approval hearing. If the settlement is accepted, NCAA institutions that choose to participate would be able to pay their own players directly. The deal was authorised in preliminary form last October. According to the University of Cincinnati, the settlement will have a permissive maximum of $20–22 million for the 2025–2026 season.

Georgia football coach Kirby Smart expressed some open feelings and worries about the state of college football today and the implications of the settlement for the NCAA prior to the hearing.

Earlier this week, Smart stated, “Everyone is on pins and needles because we don’t know exactly what’s going to come out of this.”

While Smart supports paying players, he is concerned that the cap may be manipulated and doubts that the decision will truly improve the NCAA’s competitive balance.

“A lot of people are doing things that aren’t illegal,” Smart stated. “They’re just money-manipulating schemes to try to move this and that so I can get this free.” And what will take place? A bubble or a spike is most likely to occur. Subsequently, agents are attempting to exploit that every available moment. They desire to do all in their power to help their customer. Ultimately, though, it could backfire because, if the cap is actually what the House Settlement wants it to be, the market will correct when it takes effect.

“All we’re trying to do is make for competitive balance,” he continued. It’s quite regrettable, and I’m not sure if competitive balance will result from it.”


The main reason for Smart’s worries is that he doesn’t think the present NCAA environment will eventually help the athletes.

“The next ten years will be difficult for kids,” Smart said. “I’m going to go back and look at this and ask, ‘What happened to the kids that went to two and three and four places?'” comes to mind as they look back. We won’t be pleased with where those students who jumped for a better opportunity ended up, I promise. Additionally, I believe that many third-, fourth-, and fifth-year students will benefit from the site. However, it also provides an escape route that, in my opinion, is not suitable for children at this time.

“What’s going on right now is not good for anyone.”

What Smart and Georgia will remain true in the midst of all the uncertainty is that they will keep looking for players who are there for reasons other than money.

“What I do know is we’re going to continue to recruit people who love football, are passionate about football, and that don’t put money as the No. 1 answer,” Smart stated. “I’ve never met a really good player, that that’s all they cared about.”